Grouse (prairie chicken, Sharp-tailed AND Ruffed)

2015 Prairie Grouse Hunting Forecast

Season Dates: September 19, 2015 through January 3, 2016
Open Area: Statewide
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 15

Shooting Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Prairie Grouse Wing Box Collections

Ruffed grouse are a forest bird found in limited numbers in the Black Hills of western South Dakota. They spend much of their time foraging on the ground in mixed woody areas, especially in and around aspen groves. The birds are noted for their explosive takeoff and loud beating of their wings in flight. Ruffed grouse are considered exceleent table fare.

Sharp-tailed grouse (Sharptails) and prairie chicken, collectively referred to as prairie grouse, are closely related native birds are distributed across the short grass prairie of central and western South Dakota.

Sharptails have a relatively short tail with two central feathers somewhat longer and darker than the outer tail feathers, accounting for its name. The plumage is mottled dark and light browns against a light background. Prairie chickens have a tail that is short, dark, and rounded.

Hunting prairie grouse is an exercise in...well, exercise. These birds are usually found in larger coveys in native grassland areas and are prone to be jumpy. Dedicated hunters may walk miles in pursuit of their quarry. A good hunting dog is a valuable companion for finding and flushing/pointing birds.

License Requirements:

• Residents = Small Game, or any Combination license, , or Youth Small Game; or 1-Day Small Game
• Nonresidents = Nonresident Small Game, or Nonresident Youth Small Game
• Purchase a license online: Purchase and print off your license from the comfort of your home.
• You may purchase your license by visiting these storefront license agents

Grouse Harvest distribution map

Sharp-tailed grouse and Prairie Chicken Distribution Maps

South Dakota Grouse Lek Survey Data, 1994-present

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Year	Sq. Miles	# Leks surveyed	# Males	Males/Lek	Males/Sq.Mile
1994	260	94	1074	11.4	4.1
1995	200	39	514	13.2	2.6
1996	326	98	1001	10.2	3.1
1997	246	58	631	10.9	2.6
1998	326	87	1045	12.0	3.2
1999	290	87	1095	12.6	3.8
2000	366	91	1010	11.1	2.8
2001	302	68	510	7.5	1.7
2002	340	82	820	10.0	2.4
2003	326	92	550	6.0	1.7
2004	240	71	509	7.2	2.1
2005	286	47	485	10.3	1.7
2006	366	48	460	9.6	1.3
2007	366	54	510	9.4	1.4
2008	326	48	518	10.8	1.6
2009	366	55	671	12.2	1.8
2010	286	46	479	10.4	1.7
2011	340	38	372	9.8	1.1
2012	366	36	306	8.5	0.8
2013	326	35	276	7.9	0.8
2014	302	33	213	6.5	0.7
2015	366	39	281	7.2	0.8

Prairie Chicken

Year	Sq. Miles	# Leks surveyed	# Males	Males/Lek	Males/Sq.Mile
1994	220	46	293	6.4	0.8
1995	160	30	206	6.9	0.6
1996	260	50	385	7.7	0.9
1997	180	33	216	6.5	0.8
1998	260	54	466	8.6	1.1
1999	224	67	568	8.5	1.3
2000	260	51	339	6.6	0.8
2001	260	48	306	6.4	0.7
2002	260	43	238	5.5	0.5
2003	260	45	252	5.6	0.6
2004	160	21	117	5.6	0.4
2005	220	33	220	6.7	0.5
2006*	260	26	182	7	0.7
2007	260	26	165	6.3	0.5
2008	220	25	177	7.1	0.7
2009	260	34	312	9.2	1.2
2010	220	29	216	7.4	1.0
2011	236	34	335	9.9	1.4
2012	260	22	204	9.3	0.5
2013	220	26	218	8.4	0.9
2014	196	23	151	6.7	0.8
2015	260	20	194	9.7	1.0

* reduced number of traditional routes
ˆ Stanley route not completed